Trump, GOP face urgent decision on health insurer subsidies

House passage of an Obamacare repeal bill sets up a process that could take weeks or even months before the Senate arrives at its own bill, but in the meantime, the Trump administration will face a more immediate question.

Should it continue propping up struggling insurance companies under Obamacare, or not?

Trump recently told the Washington Examiner that his decision on whether to help insurers pay for subsidies given to low-income Obamacare customers would depend on what happens to the GOP's American Health Care Act.

"So I really have to see what happens over the next couple of days or maybe weeks with respect to our plan before I make that decision," he said when asked about these "cost-sharing reduction payments."

But on Thursday, the House's passage offered no clues as to what the Trump administration might choose to do with the payments. Trump has threatened to pull them before, but then said they would continue.